Attention Deficit Disorder

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The Right Solution CounselingLocated in EurekaOver 15 years of experience in field of mental healthWork with children and adultsTutoring services – ACT test prepTeen group for High school Girls

So what is Attention Deficit Disorder?

According to the CDC:

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders of childhood.

• It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood. Children with ADHD have struggles often in the home and at school.

Sound familiar?Does your child:

• Make careless mistakes

• Does not listen when spoken to

• Fail to complete chores, homework, etc. in a timely fashion

• Lose things often

• Talk excessively

• Has a hard time taking turns

Signs & Symptoms of ADD

The CDC states that children with ADD/ADHD might exhibit some (or all) of the following:

• have a hard time paying attention and daydream a lot

• not seem to listen

• be easily distracted from schoolwork or play

• forget things

Signs and Symptoms Continued…• squirm or fidget

• talk too much

• not be able to play quietly

• act and speak without thinking

• have trouble taking turns

• interrupt others

• struggle with staying seated

However…• Your child may exhibit some of these signs and

not others, but this does not necessarily mean that they do OR do not have attention difficulties

• Also, you may have multiple children with ADD, but it might look very different for each of them

• It has also been suggested that ADD looks very different in boys than in girls

What ADD is not/ Myths about ADD

AD/HD is NOT:

• “they didn’t forget, they just didn’t want to be bothered”

• “This is just a phase. They will grow out of it”

• “They can play video games for hours and watch T.V. for hours, so there is no way they have it”

• “They can spend hours doing what they are interested in, so I know this is just a behavior problem and a choice”

What ADD is not/ Myths about ADD

AD/HD is NOT:

• “my kid is just lazy”

• “they could do better in school if they tried”

• “they just tune me out. They chose to act like this”

• “it’s just boys being boys”

But my child is quiet…

According to the National Institute for Mental Health…

• ADHD Can Be Mistaken for Other Problems

• Parents and teachers can miss the fact that children with symptoms of inattention have the disorder because they are often quiet and less likely to act out

• They may sit quietly, seeming to work, but they are often not paying attention to what they are doing

But my child is quiet…

• They may get along well with other children

• Also, adults may think that children with the hyperactive and impulsive types of ADD just have emotional or disciplinary problems

Boys• It has been estimated that boys are 2-3x more

likely to be diagnosed with ADHD

• However…• Boys with ADHD tend to be noticed more at school

and at home because of the symptoms they display

• Boys with ADHD often act out more, have defiant behaviors in multiple settings, show aggression, and look more like the stereotyped “hyper child”

Girls• According to the American Psychological

Association:• Girls with ADHD aren’t usually hyperactive.

• Instead, they tend to have trouble focusing.

• Parents and teachers often miss symptoms in girls because they tend to be quiet and appear to daydream instead of being “hyper”.

Girls• According to researchers, girls with untreated

ADHD are at risk for low self-esteem, underachievement and problems like depression and anxiety.

So how do I know if my child has ADD/ADHD?

• There is no one approach to determining if your child has Attention Deficit Disorder

• Your pediatrician, psychiatrist, psychologist, or child’s mental health counselor can assist in diagnosing your child with ADD, and help with ruling out other concerns

Types of ADD/ADHD• Many people ask “what is the difference

between ADD and ADHD?”

• Both ADD and ADHD are ways of saying your child has Attention Deficit Disorder

• There are three sub categories of ADD

Inattentive typeThe inattentive type: mostly seen as your daydreamers, forgetful kids, and generally unorganized

Hyperactive typeThe hyperactive type: often seen as your

talkative kids, “hyper” children, or the child who cannot sit still

Combined typeThe combined type: children who display

both hyperactive and inattentive traits

AD/HD and Emotional Health

• Often, children with ADD have additional diagnosis such as anxiety disorders and depression

• The chances of your child developing other disorders in late adolescence/early adulthood can decrease with early intervention

Self Esteem• Children with ADD often suffer from low self

esteem

• This is especially true for adolescent girls

• There is often a sense of failure

• Children with ADD are often criticized more by parents and teachers

Depression• Children with ADD may isolate themselves from

others due to personal frustration

• Children with ADD may feel hopeless that things will improve

• Children with ADD often have trouble sleeping, which can increase these feelings

Anxiety• Children with ADD are often anxious about their

ability to perform certain tasks

• Children with ADD often have test taking anxiety due to their inability to focus and memorize materials

• Children with ADD often have impulsive behaviors which increase anxiety

Impulsive Behaviors/ Anger

• Both boys and girls with ADD may have very impulsive behaviors, and struggle with acting out as a result• However, this is usually followed by guilt and remorse

• At times, children with ADD may exhibit very aggressive behaviors or be quick to anger

Making and keeping friends

• Due to the impulsive behaviors, anger, and self doubt, many children with ADD have a hard time making and keeping friends

• Children with ADD are often seen as unpredictable by their peers, which also causes struggles in forming relationships

Homework struggles

• Children with ADD often need frequent breaks in homework

• May require more 1:1 help

• Benefit from having homework and projects broken up into small sections

• Struggle with remembering to write down their assignments

But I forgot…• Children with ADD often forget to complete

their homework

• Forget to turn in their homework

• Make small mistakes on work (i.e forget to answer all questions)

But I forgot…• Often forget to complete chores…even if you

asked them 5 minutes ago…5 times in a row…

• Struggle with keeping a concept of time

• “I will in just a second…” really turns into 2 hours later

• Often need to be reminded several times

Behavior struggles• Children with ADD may act out

• Struggle with waiting their turn

• Act aggressively

• Interrupt others

• Struggle to emotionally self regulate

• Struggle with patience

School• Talk excessively

• Squirm or fidget in their seat

• Daydream

• Interrupt

• Struggle with grades

• Lose assignments

• Stay unorganized despite help

So what now…Will they grow out of it?Who do I call?Where do I start?What can I as a parent do to help?Is it genetic?

Treatment OptionsCounselingParenting classesMedication evaluationsBehavior modification in the classroom

How to help your child be successful

• Schedule. Keep the same routine every day, from wake-up time to bedtime. Include time for homework, outdoor play, and indoor activities. Keep the schedule on the refrigerator or on a bulletin board in the kitchen. Write changes on the schedule as far in advance as possible.

How to help your child be successful• Use homework and notebook organizers. Use

organizers for school material and supplies. Stress to your child the importance of writing down assignments and bringing home the necessary books.

OrganizeOrganize everyday items. Have a place for

everything, and keep everything in its place. This includes clothing, backpacks, and toys.

Clear and consistentBe clear and consistent. Children with ADHD need

consistent rules they can understand and follow.

How to help your child be successful• Give praise or rewards when rules are followed.

Children with ADHD often receive and expect criticism. Look for good behavior, and praise it.

Could there be something else wrong?

Often, children with ADD have other struggles such as:

• Anxiety disorders

• Depression

• Oppositional Defiant Disorder

• Conduct Disorder

• Learning disabilities

The Right Solution Counseling• Accept all ages

• Will accept insurance – offer sliding scale for those without insurance

For more information:RightSolutionCounseling.com

314-374-1620

Questions?